Australia is set to return the three culturally significant artefacts to India when Prime Minister Scott Morrison visits New Delhi in January.
Morrision's office said on Wednesday that the religious sculptures were being returned after new information emerged about their ownership history.
The artefacts were bought in good faith by the National Gallery of Australia from the smuggler Subhash Kapoor, who has criminal charges levelled against him in the United States.
The repatriation of the sculptures follows new evidence in criminal charges levelled against Kapoor in New York
“After studying the criminal complaint, there was sufficient doubt around the provenance of these sculptures to remove them from the national collection. We take these matters very seriously and have acted at the earliest opportunity,” said Nick Mitzevich Director of the National Gallery of Australia.
The decision by the Australian government has come amid growing calls for the repatriation of cultural and religious artefacts from foreign museums.
